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Novice Considering MS 150, Advice?
Hello all.
I am somewhat of a novice/newbee and am considering riding the MS 150 in South Florida in April. I work at a fairly large business and should be able to easily raise the funds. That said, I am concerned with the ride itself. I think I could do the 75 both days, but not at a fast pace. Does anyone know what the avg speed usually is for these rides? I understand some will haul through it, while others dont make it. I just want to be somewhere in the middle of the pack. Also, will day 2 be murder? Will the toll of the first 75 make the second significantly harder? Please don't flame me, I just dont want to get in over my head. Any advice from anyone who has done the MS150 or similar ride would be great. Thanks |
They are probably going to give you 8 or 10 hours to do 75 miles. That's less than 10mph. As long as you're not climbing lots of mountains (not likely in Florida), you shouldn't have any problem if you pace yourself and eat/drink adequately. Don't try to stay with the fast group unless that is your normal training pace. Find a group riding at a speed you are comfortable with and ask if you can join them. Have fun.
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It's cake.
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Agreed, cake.
Remember, it's in their best interest to make the ride as easy as possible to get people to ride. |
I ride in the Houston to Austin MS 150. This ride is split 100 miles on the first day and 88 on day two.
The pace on these rides varies a lot. Depending on the elevation of the route (South Florida sounds flat) and the wind conditions, the pace can be 23mph+ down to 12 mph. There are typically rest stops every 10 miles or so. If you follow a basic training plan, you won't have any problem completing the ride. Best of luck! |
Do it. It's a piece of cake, and you feel like a hero at the end.
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+1 on everyone's posts. It's not hard. The only challenge is sitting in the saddle for 10 hours - it's hard on the nuts. :p
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:) Thanks to all. I am going to give it a shot. Now I just hope I dont flop, considering its cake and all.
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Originally Posted by the beef
The only challenge is sitting in the saddle for 10 hours - it's hard on the nuts. :p
Do the MS150, but start training for it pronto! Search these forums and/or the web and you'll find lots of helpful advice on how to train. Do some other organized rides (often for a $20-30 fee) if you have never ridden in a larger group ride before. Check your MS150 web site. Here in Houston they have a ride almost every weekend, plus there are coorporate teams you can join which may sponsor their own weekend rides and give great support the days of the ride. Good luck! |
I did one 15 years ago...one of the funnest things I've ever done. I plan to do another this year.
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Yeah....you'll be fine. Just stop at all of the rest stops and be sure to keep the fluids coming in. These are usually well supported and fun.
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If you can find an MS 150 team that does training rides, join up, especially if they'll be riding as a group (or groups) during the event. I did my first MS 150 last year and the advantages of riding in a paceline with a good-sized group can't be stressed enough. It ended up being great fun, and the event in Utah raised well over $1,000,000, which is pretty cool, especially if you know someone who has MS.
Cheers. |
Don't worry, no matter how slow you are there will be hundreds slower than you. I am really, really, really slow and there were people crossing the finish line hours after me. People will be there with small children, with special bikes for parapalegics, on hybrids, mountain bikes, and so on.
The first day wasn't too hard for me. The second day was rather brutal. My legs were dead, but that said, being over 70 lbs overweight, I still completed it just fine. My only recomendation is to not eat too much. I actually gained 3 lbs! I was also a novice. I had just started to ride regularly in March of that year and did the MS 150 in September. Couch potato(flat slow, 6 mile ride was brutal) to regular 50 mile rides in just 5 months. |
Originally Posted by yeamac
Sounds like someone should try a cut-out saddle. :p
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You just need to get out and get ready, do the work,i did two MS150's on a kickbike,(scooter) and averaged 11-13 mph about 10 hours worth, both days, it was a little tough,but a good ride, im 62.
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You have to put the time into traning. The better shape you're in, the more fun it will be. I did it for the first time last year with my wife. Everybody told her how easy it was, so despite what I was telling her, she blew off training for it and just did a couple easy rides a week to get ready. By the end of day one she was dead and did not ride day two.
So it's fun and doable, but you will probably be in the saddle, riding for 10 - 12 hours for those two days, so be ready for it, and you'll have a good time. |
Originally Posted by efrobert
You have to put the time into traning. The better shape you're in, the more fun it will be. I did it for the first time last year with my wife. Everybody told her how easy it was, so despite what I was telling her, she blew off training for it and just did a couple easy rides a week to get ready. By the end of day one she was dead and did not ride day two.
So it's fun and doable, but you will probably be in the saddle, riding for 10 - 12 hours for those two days, so be ready for it, and you'll have a good time. You absolutely must train. 10 hours in the saddle is not easy. And you will need to know what kind of foods to eat and how often. Are you shorts up to the challenge? How about shoes? Bike fit issues will also rear their ugly head on those long rides. If you don't find them out and fix them during training you will be very sorry. I eventually got up to 50 mile rides and felt prepared for the MS 150. My normal rides were 20 miles during the week. I just went a bit slower during the MS150 and did fine. I also got aerobars for the ride. They really helped out. |
I think they generally have an option to do 50 miles each day.
Best supported ride I have ever done. Go for it. You will enjoy it. |
Originally Posted by Stylo328
Also, will day 2 be murder? Will the toll of the first 75 make the second significantly harder?
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I did two back in the late 90s (60/40 format both times). The first one, my first ever, was kinda tough at the end of day 2. The next year, I was prepared and had a great time. I did both on a mountain bike with slicks.
I'm signed up for this year's MS150, but I now have a road bike. My fitness level is somewhere between where it was with the previous two, so I'll be in fine shape by the time this one rolls around. Anyway, they're a lot of fun and not hard if you're in moderately good shape. It's not a race, so don't treat it like one. When I was training for the 2nd MS150, I would go out and ride 20-50 miles at 15mph (this on a mtb with slicks). I started in mid winter. By May, I was in good enough shape that I cruised across the finish line with virtually no fatigue. My only recomendation is to not eat too much. I actually gained 3 lbs! Chris |
You know, I typed all these things I was going to tell you, but given that I have already said it all before, I will save everyne all the reading.
You need to start riding more consistantly = 4-6 times/week!!! |
Originally Posted by allencb
I did two back in the late 90s (60/40 format both times). The first one, my first ever, was kinda tough at the end of day 2. The next year, I was prepared and had a great time. I did both on a mountain bike with slicks.
I'm signed up for this year's MS150, but I now have a road bike. My fitness level is somewhere between where it was with the previous two, so I'll be in fine shape by the time this one rolls around. Anyway, they're a lot of fun and not hard if you're in moderately good shape. It's not a race, so don't treat it like one. When I was training for the 2nd MS150, I would go out and ride 20-50 miles at 15mph (this on a mtb with slicks). I started in mid winter. By May, I was in good enough shape that I cruised across the finish line with virtually no fatigue. How did you manage to eat 10k calories more than you burned? That's impressive. :) Chris I gain weight easily.......Just lucky I suppose. ;) |
I think that you will be fine. The MS150 here in Arkansas is a bear. It is two days of climbing in the Ozark MT.'s In South FL you will not have a problem.
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Given the description of the route indicating you are riding in "regular car roads with traffic", I seriously think the biggest hill you might find is 3 overpass. Yes, South FL is as flat as a pancake.
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Go for it. THis is my second year. It sounds like the same one I'm doing. Miami to Key Largo. Last year was rough, but only because I didn't train for it. I started working weekends and only started 2 weeks before and I only rode 1 hour per ride. Still I was able to finish it. Or rather survive it. The second day was murder only cause the saddle I had back then sucked so my rear end was really sore. BUt this time I'm actually training with my Team and I have a really comfortable saddle. Don't be intimidated. It's so fun. I plan on doing it every year. It's so well organized that it's amazing.
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